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Changing approaches to security / Policy Brief

The EU and the Western Balkans: preparing for the long-haul

02/12/2010 By Judy Batt

Several Western Balkans states have taken positive steps towards EU integration, but the region will have to work hard for many years before it is ready to join.

The upcoming accession of Croatia, commended for ‘steady progress’, should serve as an example and encourage additional efforts in the Western Balkans to speed up the pace of reform and address long-standing weaknesses.

Meanwhile, concerns abound that the EU’s preoccupation with its huge internal problems, especially regarding the euro’s legitimacy in the face of the threat of economic meltdown in Greece, Ireland and possibly other member states, could further diminish the Union’s enthusiasm for enlargement towards the Balkans.

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Keywords

Albania Bosnia-Herzegovina Croatia Enlargement EU European Union Kosovo Macedonia Montenegro Serbia Western Balkans

Bio author: Judy Batt

Western Balkans. Serbia. Kosovo. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia. Central and South-East European politics. International security.